Collar clasp



1934- F. v. SHERICO ET AL 1,953,160

COLLAR CLASP Filed Jan. 20. 1933 ill? 10 %l atented May 8, 1934 PATENT OFFICE uNrreo STATES COLLAR CLASP Frank V, Cherico and Albert Kiihn, White Plains, N. Y.

Application January 20, 1933, Serial No. 6525512 8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain improvements in collar clasps; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the art involved in the light of the following explanation and binations and constructions of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

The wearers of the so-called soft types of collars are subjected to certain difiiculties and annoyances in the use and wear of such collars, due to the tendency of the front side portions or wings thereof to separate and rumple, and to the difficulty of maintaining the knot of ,a tie used therewith in the proper position between the converged upper ends of the wings. These difficulties result in a very untidy and unkempt appearance of such types of collars, notwithstanding every effort on the part of the wearer to maintain the desiredneat and smooth appearance of the collar and tie ensemble, and constitute a very general objection to the soft collar.

It is a main object of our invention to provide a medium in the form of aclasp or holder that can be readily and quickly applied by the wearer after the collar and tie are fastened in place and proper position and relationship, by which the above mentioned and other dificultiesand dis-.

advantages are practically eliminated, and the opposite wings of the collar are held against sepor fastened position to and extending between the opposite wings of a collar, and that can be quickly unlocked and unclasped for removal, and further to embody such mechanical features into an ornamental design of attractive appearance which will add :to the pleasing effect of a soft collar and tie assembly without being obtrusive or objectionable.

Another object of our-invention is' the provision of such a collar clasp or holder which provides spring or resilient clamping jaws at oppo-. site ends of the holder for clamping over the opposite wings of a collar into securely fastened position without piercing or cutting the material of the collar, to thereby eliminate objectionable marking or other damage to the collar; and further, to provide lever locks for opening and closing the collar clamping jaws; which locks are so designed and arranged that their operating levers are so located and relatively arranged in both clasp'open and clasp closed position, as to be readily accessible to the fingers for rapid mamanufacture and assembly, yet which presents a design in which the clasp operating parts are completely located at the rear side thereof, so that in applied position of the clasp on a collar they are substantially completely concealed from view and the front side of the clasp presents solely an ornamental and decorative appearance.

With the foregoing general objects and results in View, as well as certain others that will be readily recognized from the following explanation, our invention consists in certainnovel and useful features in design and. in construction and arrangements of parts and elements, all as wi l be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figures thereof:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a soft collar and-necktie in proper assembly on the'neci: of a wearer with a collar clasp or holder of our invention in applied position clasped to and extending between the opposite wings of the collar and beneath the necktie to hold the knot therethe lever locks in open position with the opposite end clasp or clamp jaws sprung apart to collar receiving positions;

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of a different and modified form of collar clasp of our invention.

Fig. 7 is a view in rear elevation of the clasp of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view in top or edge plan of the collar clasp of Figs. 6 and 7, the clamping jaws being shown in normal closed collar clamping position;

We have disclosed by way of an example in Figs. 1 m5, of the accompanying drawing, a preferred form of a collar clasp or holder embodying our present-invention, in which the spring or resilient clamping jaws at opposite ends of the clasp are actuated to opened and closed positions through the medium of lever locks in accordance with a feature of the invention. For instance, the body of the clasp or holder of Figs. 1 to 5, is formed, in the particular example hereof, of a strip or bar 10 of suitable material, such as any of the precious metals or their alloys, base metals, or in fact, any variety of materials adaptedto the purpose. i

The strip or bar 10 is relatively thin and o elongated, relatively narrow form, and in the specific example hereof, is'curved longitudinally as well as laterally, from end to end thereof in order to more readily conform to the space between the wings of a collar and beneath a tie therein, when the clasp is in mounted position, as will be more fully referred to hereinafter in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawing. The opposite ends of the bar mare smoothly rounded and form and define the front clamping jaws 11 of the opposite clamps or clasps of the holder. -While not --preferred, it is to be clearly understood that our invention is not limited in all respects to such curved form of the clasp body or bar 10, as if desired or' found expedient, such bar can be straight or variously otherwise curved than as here shown.

At the inner or rear side of the body or bar 10, we provide another strip or bar 20, which in the example hereof is of substantially the identical size and shape of the front bar 10. This rear bar 20 is suitably fixed at its central portion to the central portion of the front bar 10, as by riveting, soldering or in other ways, and forms a complement of and is substantially coextensive with the front bar in' length and width when in its assembled relation fixed thereto, as will be clear by referece to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing in particular. The rear bar 20 is of spring'or resilient material and is bent or curved rearwardly away from the front bar 10, so that its oppositelengths from the fixed central portion are normally spaced rearwardly from bar 10, and terminate in the opposite end clamping jaws 21 for cooperation with the opposite end jaws 11, respectively, of the front bar 10. The opposite jaws21 of rear bar 20 are thus movable or bendable inwardly to clamping position with or against jaws 11, re-

spectively, (see Fig. 4) and upon release of the forces holding them in such clamping position will spring rearwardly away from bar 10 to their normally open position shown in Fig. 5.

Preferably, although not essentially, rounded knobs are formed' on the inner faces of the clasp or clamping jaws 21, as for example by stampin or pressing them from the material of which bar 20 is formed, or in any other suitable manner. Similar knobs or protuberances can be formed on the inner or rear faces of jaws 11 of bar 10, preferably staggered or offset with respect to knobs 22 of jaws 21. Other forms of teeth, serrations or the like, can be provided on the jaws so as to more securely engage the material of a collar to be clamped therebetween, but any such formations should be well rounded and smooth surfaced to eliminate fabric damaging points, edges, corners, or the like.

' In accordance'with our invention, means are provided for moving and locking the jaws 21 into clasping or clamping relation with the jaws 11. For example, in the form of our invention here shown, such means take the form of lever locks, and their construction, mounting, and relative position and arrangement whereby accessibility and ease of finger manipulation by a user are secured, presents an important feature of our invention.

The mounting for such lever locks, of which there is one for each of the jaws 21, consists in the example hereof, of the U-shaped bands, shackles, or fittings 30, fixed to and transversely across the front or outer side of bar 10 at opposite sides, of and'spaced from the point of fixed connection, between bars 10 and 20, and spaced a distance inwardly, respectively, from the opposite ends of the bars; The opposite legs 31 of each band or shackle 30 extend rearwardly across the opposite edges. of bars 10 and 20, in spaced and substantially parallel relation, to terminate in the spaced ends, that are spaced a distance rearwardly from the inner side of bar 20. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) A lever lock is pivqtally and swingably. mounted in operative position on and between the spaced legs 31 of each mounting shackle 30 for actuating and locking the rear clamping jaws 21, respectively.

Each lever lock embodies and includes the cam base or block 40 pivotally mounted between the arms 31 of a shackle 30, on the opposite pivot pins or pin 41 in the ends of legs 31, and having 115 the actuating lever 42 extending therefrom. In I normal, unlocked and clasp opened position, re ferring now to Fig. 5 of the drawing, each lever lock 40 rests in position with its lever arm 42 extending rearwardly and substantially trans- 120 versely with respect to bars 10 and 20, and with the fiatface or edge 43, of cam block 40 engaged against the-rear side face of bar 20. The distance between the pivot axis 41 of a block and its flat face 43, is such that the adjacent jaw 21 forming portion of bar 20 is free to spring rearwardly into and assume its normal clasp or clamp opened position. In order to prevent the lever looks from swinging outwardly from their open positions with the levers 42 extended rearwardly, each cam block 40 has an outwardly extending heel 44 ing'jaws 11--21 of the clasp are closed by swinging the levers .42 inwardly to the positions of Fig. 4. When a lever lock is rotated inwardly, the jaw 21 engaged thereby is forced inwardly or forwardly to or against the opposite front jaw 11 by the inner edge of the block 40,- and by the fiat face 45thereof bearing against and holding bar 20 with its jaw 21 in closed position, when the lever 42 is swung inwardly and forwardly to the position of Fig. 4, lying along and substantially parallel to bars 10 and 20. In the closed positions of the lever locks, they are locked against inadvertent swinging or jaw releasing movements by the extent or length of the cam block faces 45, and can only be swung to open position by arbitrary swinging of the levers 42 by the fingers of a user.

In order to facilitate and guide the fingers in swinging the levers 42 from jaw closing to jaw opening positions, one of the levers 42 has an extended and outwardly and rearwardly turned end 42a, so that in closed position of the levers such end is first exposed for engagement by the fingers of a user in opening the clasp, as will be clear by reference to Fig. i, in particular. To further facilitate release of the clasp, the lever 42 that is first engaged by the fingers of a righthanded person in reaching up under the clasp to release it from a collar, is the one preferably provided with the extension 4241, although of course our invention is not so limited.

The applied position of a clasp or holder of our invention, as hereinbefore described, is disclosed in proper applied position on and between the wings W of a collar C, and beneath a necktie T, in Fig. l, of the drawing. To apply the clasp, the lever locks are in the position of Fig. 5 with the opposite end clamping jaws in their open position. The user grasps the clasp and places it beneath necktie T, and then slips the open jaws at one end over the adjacent collar wing W and next the open jaws at the opposite end over the opposite collar wing W.- While holding the clasp in such position, the levers 42 are swung inwardly to their closed position of Fig. 4, with the jaws 1l--2l forced together to securely clamp the collar wings W therebetween and hold the clasp in position.

In order to remove the clasp from applied position, the user reaches up under the clasp and feels for lever end 42a which acts as a guide to locate the finger positions. 'After engaging lever end 42a, its lever 42 is swung rearwardly opening the jaw 21 controlled thereby, and then with the fingers the opposite lever 42 is swung rearwardly to open its jaw 21, after which the clasp is released and can be removed from the collar. The arrangement and location of levers i2 is such that the clasp releasing operation can be quickly and easily performed, being aided ma.- terially by the tendency of the lever locks to swing to open position under the action of sprin jaws 21, once the levers are partially swung to. open position. By the rearwardly extended open position of levers 42, the operation of applying the clasp is rendered easy. because these levers can be quickly located by the fingers while the clasp is held with the open jaws held over the collar wings, and then swung to clamp closing position. 1

The clasp in applied position firmly grasps and is attached to and between the spaced wings W of collar C and thus holds the wings in position.

against separation and in the desired relation. By extending beneath the tie T the knot thereof is held against slipping down from proper position in the collar, while the rearwardly and upwardly curved form of theclasp aids in its fitting into the space between the collar wings-and carrying out the collar curvature. Due to the smooth and rounded ends of the bars 10 and 20 and the design of the clamp forming jaws ll2l, no

3 damage by scratching, tearing or piercing the colmovals of the clasp.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, of the drawing, we have disclosed another form of collar clasp of our invention, in which the body of the clasp is formed by a bar 10, similar to the bar 10, but in which the clamping jaws 21 are provided as separate elements pivotally mounted on the rear side of bar 10'. For instance, I show clamping jaws 21' mounted on the rear side of bar 10 and pivoted thereto on transverse pivot pins 25 suitably secured in fixed position on the rear side of the bar spaced inwardly from the opposite ends, respectively, of the bar. Each jaw 21 includes an operating arm 26 extended inwardly of the bar from the jaw pivot 25, and these arms terminate spaced apart at their inner ends. The inner ends of arms 26 form elements for engagemerit and inward swinging by the thumb or finger of the user to swing jaws 21' outwardly to open, collar wing receiving position.

The jaws 21 are normally maintained swung to closed position by a resilient member or spring which, in the example hereof, takes the form of a strip of flat spring material 27 fixed to the rear ends'28 bent up into spring engagement with the clamping jaws 21', respectively, .at a point spaced inwardly of the pivot point 25 for-each jaw; The springs ends 28 (see Fig. 8) z'thllS normally force and maintain jaws 21' in clamping position, but by pressing inwardly on arms 26, the jaws are swung from bar 10' to open position.

The clasp of Figs. 6 and 8 is applied in a manner similar to the clasp 'of Figs. 1 to 5, by pressing arms 26 to open the clamps and securing the opposite ends of the bar over the collar wings, respectively, and then releasing the arms so spring ends 28 force the jaws to position clamping the collar. To release the clasp it is merely necessary to grasp the central portion thereof in the fingers and press upon arms 28 to release clamps 21.

It is evident that various changes, modification, variations, substitutions, and additions might be resorted to in the forms of the invention as herein show without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. and hence we do not wish to limit ourselves in all respects to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

What we claim is:-

1. In a collar and the like clasp, complementary front and rear bars fixed together at theircen tral portions, the forward bar normally rigid and non-yielding and presenting an ornamental front face, the rear bar of spring material and bowed rearwardly with its opposite ends normally spaced from theadjacent ends, respectively, of the front bar, whereby the adjacent spaced ends of the bars form clamping jaws at opposite ends of the clasp, lever locks pivotally supported from the normally non-yielding front bar in position at the, rear side of the rear bar spaced inwardly a distance fromthe clamping jaw forming ends, respectively, of mid rearbar, and each of said lever locks embodying a pivotally mounted cam block for rotation to force the adjacent spaced end of the rear bar inwardly toward. the

front bar into clamping position therewith, and

an operating lever for rotating the cam block, said lever lock operating levers with the lever -1ar results from repeated applications and recentral portion of bar 10, and having its opposite locks swung to clamping posit-ion extended inwardly toward each other 2. In a collar and the like clasp, front and rear bar members secured together at their central portions, the rear bar of spring material and .substantially coextensive in length with the front bar, the opposite end lengths of the rear bar bent rearwardly from the front bar with the end portions thereof forming clamping jaws normally spaced from the adjacent end portions, respectively, of the front bar, mountings fixed to the front bar at opposite sides, respectively, of and spaced outwardly a distance thereon from the central portion thereof, said mountings each extended a distance rearwardly beyond the rear bar, a lever lock pivotally mounted in the rear wardly extended portion of each mounting in operative relation with the rear bar end portions, respectively, each lever lock embodying a rotatable cam block. for engaging and forcing the clamping jaw forming portion of the rear bar into clamping relation with the adjacent end portion of the front bar, an operating lever on each cam block for rotating the same, said operating levers extended rearwardly from the clasp with the cam blocks in normal clamping jaw open position and swung inwardly toward each other to rotate the blocks to clamping jaw closed position with the levers disposed longitudinally along the rear side of the rear bar, and one of said levers of greater length than the other whereby its end portion overlaps the other lever in clamping position of the cam blocks.

3. In a collar and the like clasp, a bar forming the body of the clasp, a spring material bar secured on the rear of the body bar and having itsopposite end portions bent rearwardlyiaway from the adjacent end portions, respectively, of the body bar to form normally open clamps at opposite ends of the clasp, separate means at the rear of the clasp supported from the body bar in operative association with the rearwardly bent end portions, respectively, of the spring material bar for forcing and releasably locking such end portions into clamping relation with the ends of the body bar, said means each including a cam block in normal clamp open position providing aiace engaging the rearwardly bent adjacent end portion of the spring material bar in its normal rearwardly sprung position and having itsoperating lever disposed in position extended rear-.- wardly of the clasp, and the said cam block having a cam surface for forcing the rearwardly bent end portion of the bar forwardly to clamping position when" the operating lever is swung inwardly to. position along the rear of the clasp, said latter surface providing a face for locking the bar end portion in clamping position.

4. In a collar and the like clasp, front and rear bar members secured together, at their central portions, the rear bar of spring material-and the opposite lengths thereof bent rearwardly from 'the front bar with the opposite ends thereof forming clamping jaws normally spaced from the adjacent end portions, respectively, of the front bar, mountings fixed to the front bar at opposite sides of and spaced outwardly thereon from the central portion thereof, said mountings each extended a distance rearwardly beyond the rear bar, a camblock rotatably mounted on the rear-' wardly extended portion of each mounting in operative engagement with the adjacent jaw forming portion of the rear bar for forcing such portion into clamping relation with the adjacent":

end portion of the front bar, an operating lever fixed on cam block for rotating the same,

said operating levers disposedat the rear of the clasp rand extended-rearwardly therefrom with the cam blocks in normal clamping jaw open position, and swung forwardly toward the clasp to rotate the blocks to clamping jaw closed position with the levers disposed longitudinally along the rear side of the rear bar. 7

5. In a collar and the like clasp, a bar forming a normally rigid and non-yielding clasp body, a second bar of spring material secured at its central portion in fixed position to the central portion of the body bar and disposed along the rear side of the body bar, said second bar bowed and curved rearwardly from its secured central portion with its opposite ends normally spaced from the'adjacent ends, respectively, of the body bar whereby the adjacent ends of the bars form clamping jaws at the opposite ends of the clasp, of which the forward jaws formed by the body bar are relatively fixed, and lever locks pivotally supported from the normally rigid body bar in position disposed at the rear of and in operatr'e engagement with the opposite movable clamping jaw forming ends, respectively, of the rear bar for selectively forcing such ends into clamping relation with the body bar, said lever locks each including an operating lever which in clamping position is disposed longitudinally along the rear side of and completely forwardly covered by the body bar of the clasp. 6. In a collar and the like clasp, a normally rigid front bar forming and defining the clasp body, a rear bar of spring material secured at its central portion to the central portion of the front body forming bar and disposed along the rear side of the body bar substantially coextensive therewith, said rear bar bowed and curved rearwardly from its point of attachment to the front bar with its oposite ends normally spaced from the adjacent ends, respectively, of the front bar whereby the adjacent ends of the bars form clamps at the opposite" ends of the clasp, lever locks pivotally suported from the normally rigid front bar spaced inwardly a distance from the opposite ends of the bars, respectively, and entirely positioned at the rear of the rear bar for operation to force the opposite ends of the spring material rear bar forwardly into clamping relation with the front bar, said lever locks including operating levers swung to rearwardly projected position with the locks in clasp clamp opening position, and the said locks providing means restraining movement of said levers outwardly toward the bar ends from their rearwardly projected clamp opening positions.

7. In a collar and the like clasp, a .normally rigid and non-yielding front bar forming and defining the clasp body, a rear bar of spring ma-' terial attached at its central portion to the can tral portion of the-front body forming bar and disposed along the rear side of the front bar substantially coextensive therewith from end to end thereof, said rear bar of spring material bowed and curved rearwardly from its point of attach-- 'ment to the front bar to provide normally open clamping Jaws at.

opposite ends of'the clasp,lever locks supported from the front bar in position at the rear side of the rear bar and each spaced outwardly .a distance along the bars from the central point of attachment of the bars, each lever locl: operatively engaging theadjacent end portion ofthe rear bar for forcing the same forwardly to and releasably locking the same in clamping relation with the front bar, an operating lever for each lever lock, the operating levers swung inwardly toward each other in clamp closed position disposed longitudinally along the rear side of the operating levers of greater length than the other to overlap the shorter lever with the levers swung to clamp closing position.

FRANK v. CHERICO.

ALBERT rear bar between the lever locks, and one of-said' 

